This handset is the business one of the better Sat phones out there, Easy to use reilable, all the things you want from a sat phone. I mean you dont want to be messing about trying to get a signal when u have a bit of a situation.

Well , Thuraya ( Arabic for Galaxy or Star Carpet)..
it's more of a GSM provider in it's services & packages . More friendly. Oriented to the ME/NA or Arabic Regoin.this phone is the first one I used since 2000. In the city of Nablus ( Crapped up between two 1100+ M mountians) GSM phones , remember the huge motorolla ones, had almost no reception we had an 3 externals antenas installed on our car , Appartment & Vella to get some decent voice Q.THat is if the israeli didn't knock down a couple of Cell-Towers for the fun of it so THuraya were the best option. this phone is the best & maybe only bridge between a Current Cell-Phone & a Sat. Phone.

Now it's not for u if ur only sattled in an urban area/U need an extreme survival tool. it's for u if u do lot's of off roading as a hobby , travel to WAR ZONE ME ,Travel between the ME states alot or if your a Cell-phone user who wants to try these Sci-Fi gadgets .
Salam

For being a sat phone its footprint (physical size) is really a major step towards CDMA/GSM-only based cell phones.

Having tested the SG-2520 for short period of time now its getting easier to see its pros and cons.

Pros is the size and weight.

Cons is the poor build quality (all plastic and "toy-like"), but then again... I'm used to ruggerized/weatherproof equipment, especially when you really need it in "not-so-friendly-terrain-and-weather".

Cons is the very flakey OS in it. (Experiencing a really slow GUI with freezings only curable with popping out the battery and rebooting.)

Cons is the limited battery life. (Could be remedied with the offering of an optional high capacity battery.)

Overall impression of the sat phone though is on the plus side only because of the economy friendly option of Thuraya's satellite services compared to the other satellite telecommunication providers. (That is, if Thuraya's satellite coverage is the right one for your private/professional needs.)

Compared to other systems, like Globalstar or Iridium, Thuraya is an outstanding service.
I tried them all.
Regarding Iridium: Data rates are slow, and handsets are bulky (last handset released in y2000). Connections tend to be unstable, as the satellites are moving and you have to make sure of a clear view to the sky to ANY direction! Calling charges are three times of what Thuraya costs. No GSM/CDMA-Roaming available.
Regarding Globalstar: New handset released recently. However, this device is more a replica of the unit released in 1999 from which the cellular part has been removed. No new features though. Furthermore, the satellites are failing service, making Globalstar unusable at least until 2010, for when the second generation satellite constellation is scheduled. Same restrictions regarding connection stability as for iridium, as system architecture is similar. Further road map does not include GSM/CDMA roaming service any longer.
Back to Thuraya, we have it all:
Once a connection is established, it remains stable, as the satellites are geostationary and will not suddenly disappear behind a tree, mountain or something. Speech quality is crystal clear, and data rates are comparatively high. Additional services allow us to locate our position using the build-in GPS-receiver, or surf the mobile Internet using the WAP-browser. And, probably the best of it, paying less than $6/MB using Thurayas GPRS-like GMPRS-service, we can even afford it! Of course, even the Thuraya prepaid contract allows the phone to roam in local GSM networks, ensuring indoor coverage.
The bottom line is that, where available, Thuraya offers far more value and innovative services than any other satellite product currently applicable.
Only remaining competitor is Inmarsat, currently evaluating the distribution of worldwide handheld satellite service supplying coverage to the so far vastly unknown ACeS (Asia Cellular Satellite) devices.

so....sattelite and GSM phone....built in GPS receiver....mpeg4 player....and comes with 128MB card included.....sound really really good....
and if they work a little bit on the camera and battery life they they could get me hooked......